What's your CARBON FOOTPRINT?

Thick smog hangs over Hong Kong. Air pollution reached dangerous levels one of every eight days in 2009, according to news reports (EPA)

The main cause of global warming also known as the rise  in the temperature of the earth is POLLUTION. Everybody knows this fact I suppose. Way back in elementary studies we were taught how can pollution affect the earth and the future if not manage carefully.

Pollution creates greenhouse gases and these gases that we produce everyday when we travel by car or by plane, when factories operate, and when we use electricity or appliances like TVs or computers  STOP the sun's heat from escaping  and so the earth gets hotter.

Each person creates these gases, no, not just by mere existence but by what  one does. A person can measure how much his carbon emission is and  this is called  his CARBON FOOTPRINT.  Everyone has one. We need to be aware of  our carbon footprints and how we do affect or  help reduce global warming.

Yes, this has something to do with lifestyle. The more a person is into modernity and or as what we perceive conveniences in life, the greater his carbon footprint is. A poor person in Africa compared to an elite living in New York is far different from the other, this is beside the point of wealth and innovation. The one in New York evidently pollutes the earth, not the one in Africa.

Those who are living in urban areas with such modernity and technology have more carbon emissions generally. The question then how should one  lessen the  devastation of  everyday living and  what can a person do to make his carbon footprint less?

These some tips I got from a textbook can surely help.

1. Use trains not planes - choose public transportation and avoid long trips by plane. Cars and planes leave big carbon footprints and use up the planet's natural resources. The price of individual convenience indeed is not so agreeable to planet Earth.

2. Eat local - choose food that grows in your own country. Then food doesn't have to travel a long way by plane. Greens and other organic produce are the best.

3. Eat less meat -choose vegetables for some of your meals. Animals create a lot of greenhouse gases. Any  livestock farms produce more carbon dioxide when more people eat less meat and poultry it could mean lesser  farms which help minimize carbon dioxide emissions. 

4. Switch off  - don't leave computers and televisions on when  no one is using them. Unplug is the best word and not just for saving money but for energy all in all. 

5. Reuse and recycle - don't throw things away. If you can't use them, give them to someone else. More waste means more pollutants unless a certain place or city has a proper waste disposal system, nonetheless, lesser wastes mean less CO2.

We don't have to wait for ten years or so, the future starts now. We know that our planet is changing and we have been experiencing the effects of the  instability. This could get worse if we won't act  today. It's a fact that it's getting hotter and it isn't good! What exactly will happen to our planet anytime from now?

When pollution gets worse, the temperature will rise, lakes and rivers will dry up, ice in the Polar region will melt, oceans will rise, there will be more floods, there won't be as many  trees as there will be more forest fires. And after that, what?     ....... I'll leave that up you. 

For once, I thought it was insane for us to dream and even aspire for wealth and  affordability of  having these modern technologies when these  all eventually harm the very place we live in. And amazingly, we make some people richer by polluting the earth. Take account on airplanes, these contribute a huge amount of CO2 and they are not cheap to avail, how much does it cost to get an airline ticket? Well, it's not less. Perhaps so more people can't afford any?  Nonetheless, these give more income and profit to those operating the kind of business. I'm not saying it's bad, I'm just pointing out the effects of these developments as we thought.  Yes, right, it's a business of convenience that unfortunately  damages the planet. 

We aspire on getting ourselves these brand new  technologies that are being introduced from time to time when they're slowly killing our mother earth. Many  go for birth control pills  believing having less people offers more conveniences, more financial favorable circumstances and this saves the earth when in fact, these pills cause estrogen pollution  which is not just a  potential human health  but also a huge marine life DISASTER.

I once asked my class why do we all dream of getting rich when in fact we just need to accommodate our needs for survival? Out of the blue my clever student uttered, BECAUSE WE ARE STUPID!. I was surprised, I myself didn't see that answer coming I was just apparently  in wonder.

The SIMPLER  life is, the LESS CARBON FOOTPRINT but who would care for the next generation when one thinks life is just about self and these present amenities and comfortable living nothing else? My   thirteen-year-old-student  is probably right.

Rest in Peace, Manny Amador

The PRO-LIFERS mourn the death of a fellow Pro-Lifer, Manny Amador today. I myself was shocked when I heard the news as it was just a few days back when the late Manny Amador accepted my FB friend's request. I noticed him on mainstream media's commentaries and heard more of him from those opposing the RH Bill. Till the day, he at least liked a link on my wall then he was just gone.


He's a true versatile and gifted person who never forgot the goodness of God despite such blessings. I believe he is also surrounded by good friends which made him a friend to all.  Here's the news on his death.

Passionate Linux advocate and local IT pioneer Manny Amador was found dead by authorities on Friday in his rented house in Cebu where he had relocated to work for open-source firm InfoWeapons.

He turned 49 last July 7.

Amador, brother of theatre actress Pinky Amador, apparently died in his sleep due to cardiac arrest that may have been triggered by diabetic complications. Sketchy reports indicated he may have been dead for three days before being discovered by local police.

While in Cebu, Amador also worked as correspondent for an IT publication. He also maintained at least three blogs which served as his outlets for his many persuasions.

Aside from being a hardcore techie, Amador was also an ardent anti-RH Bill advocate, a dedicated motorcycle enthusiast, and former lead guitarist of the pioneering Pinoy hard-rock band The Breed.

But the work that really defined Amador was his involvement in consumer activism in the early days of the Internet in the Philippines. He was a leading light in local IT scene when open-source was also just gaining a foothold in the country.

As president of the Philippine League for Democratic Telecommunications Inc. (PLDTi), Amador was deeply involved in opposing telephone metering being proposed then.

He also led the PLDTi in suing PLDT for P100 million after the telco giant included his group in a case against Gerry Kaimo who held the domain PLDT.com then.

In an interview with Wired Philippines, he had this to say about the issue: “PLDT clearly made a mistake when it included PLDTi in the lawsuit since the League does not own or maintain the PLDT.COM website. That’s why we’re suing them for P100 million. That should show them that they cannot just drag innocent people to court without facing the consequences. The League will not be intimidated by this malicious and clumsy attempt to silence it. We will continue to speak out against PLDT’s unfair and backward metering scheme and any other anti-consumer practices."

As a fervent open-source supporter, Amador said in the same interview said that an effective answer to software piracy would be the promotion of open-source software.

“Instead of fighting piracy, why not avoid it altogether? Linux, for example, is the world’s fastest growing operating system and it’s practically free! Can you imagine how much piracy could be diminished if government offices and business switched to Linux? The improvement would be tremendous," he said.

Born and raised in Manila, Amador graduated from Ateneo de Manila with a degree in AB Communication Arts and AB Philosophy. He, however, called Cebu his home in the last days of his life. Part of the reason he relocated to the province was to marry a local girl – but the wedding didn’t push through. Nonetheless, he stayed put and learned to love the island life. — Newsbytes.ph

          http://www.gmanews.tv/story/227135/technology/pinoy-it-activist-manny-amador-found-dead

His blog against the RH Bill  is this. His last post  dated July  13 on a "Demolition Job Backfires":

The headline of the following story says it all:

No Pajeros, no luxury SUVs: Accusations hurled vs bishops backfire on PCSO

MANILA, Philippines – Accusations hurled by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office against Catholic bishops boomeranged on the agency on Wednesday after members of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee quizzed the PCSO chief on why the prelates were accused of receiving Pajero cars when not one of them acquired the said luxury sport utility vehicle manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors using PCSO money.

As I expected, the truth eventually came out, and as a result the church-haters and pro-RH groups attacking the bishops over the PCSO donations now have egg on their faces. This was a shameless demolition job from the beginning designed to undermine the Church’s oppostion to the RH/abortion bill.

Well, the deception has backfired. While the bishops have been exonerated from any wrongdoing, the sheer malice of their detractors has become crystal clear. People know prejudice when they see it, and they will react. Online communities are now alive with ordinary persons — even non-Catholics — speaking out in defense of the Church. Even Sen. Miriam Santiago (author of the Senate version of the RH bill) has defended the bishops (at least on the issue on the constitutionality of the PCSO donations).

http://mamador.wordpress.com/

The I Oppose the RH Bill on FB  offered an hour of payer for his soul.

We thank Manny for standing for life until his last breath, his death is a big loss to those who believe in the sanctity of life. He will always be remembered. Our condolences to the bereaved family, friends and loved ones. Ad maiorem Dei gloriam!

The Best in good BASICS

It's not the first time to hear that we learn first the ABCs of  life and living at home through our parent's guidance, church, school and the rest of the people around us. When the fundamentals are set to righteousness and values of seeing things more than what the rest project what it is, then there's no worries facing more challenges as time goes by. As no matter what and in times of both confusion and  temptation, the foundation rules.

Social problems are caused by an individual person and more of them doing the same thing creates a huge effect in the society as a whole. First, it wrecks the very person's life, then the family, the society and the whole nation. If it gets worst, it contaminates the rest of the world population and  we call it human manipulation.

I think we are in this age of people lacking the ability of distinguishing right and wrong. All seem right for some and nothing is wrong. And this narcissistic ideology has greatly affected humanity in a much greater way.

The elemental  con is still greed which others just view as business and for more profit in this deceit of  protecting and offering help to humanity by imposing  theories which they strongly believe are the best.

Sometimes I ask myself why do some people think this way, by lacking ability to see the longer effect of what they're doing and basically unconcern about the years ahead and for the many other generations to come. I remember one song of Michael Jackson on "they don't care about us". All these kinds of  people think in a tiny box which they themselves are the only ones getting edge among the rest which we know aren't really lasting.

Many are blinded on hedonism that whatever they do they just do it for the sake of happiness. Not that I'm not into it but it's never the ultimate goal. If one is set to that vision he'd do anything he wants coordinating the concept regardless of this right or wrong facts. It's the same issue of convenience. People think life is best when it's convenient all the time and they stick to it regardless of the effects and the downside of the choice.

I believe adhering to the truth that doing things right  is always the best thing to do. And knowing what is that right thing affects the person's principles on what's wrong and right. This is not selfish, this requires sacrifice and trust. A person whose basics are of the common good and compassion cares more to the bigger population above himself. It's the same thing of not limiting thoughts on the present but extending it to future and its advantages.  He goes for authentic happiness and convenience that are definitely products of doing what is right. Doing the right thing gives a man peace and serenity and molds wisdom in living this life more abundantly. 

When ones  conviction is on genuine love and selfless motivations, take the credit to good heart and reason inculcated even when still young. Good basics then fuel the ride of this ups and downs of life and so major decisions that play a great definition of not just a single person but the society as a whole.

The Calendar

I seldom have breakfast at home unless I'm not going to work then I either go  have my morning meal in the nearest restaurants near where I live. I have so much time  this term and I often go to this house just a few steps from my home for breakfast. The old lady maybe of eighty years old prepares the food and the husband assists as getting the plates and wash them at a time. He also serves the customers preparing glasses with ice and he often goes in and out of the house for the plates putting them back to the rack after he finishes washing about three or four plates. He also brings the rice cooker for rice refill on the display as usually  more customers come in.

One thing I like in this place is its simplicity. It feels like you are in a family and being prepared for a meal. The place is nice, this old couple opens their gate and have the tables in their front yard. While you're eating you can hear the AM radio station being played by a seemingly old radio at the same time you can enjoy watching their plants in the other side of the yard and some fishes in different pots.  Of course the old couple are also very friendly. As observed, the Thais are quite as friendly as the Filipinos and I can observe that they're basically the same in terms of dealing with neighbors.

Today was kinda  different one for me, in the past days I used to sit facing the other yard but I had the other direction today, not by choice though but availability. As I had my soup and spicy pork dish I noticed this one very thing hanging on the post.

It's a normal calendar  with marks on it. The couple I supposed the man marked the finish dates making one find it easier to distinguish the exact date of the day. I am amazed seeing the marker tied right in front of the calendar. On one hand, I realized that it's not getting interesting for me to check  the dates anymore these times. I used to have major plans for this year and sadly these I have to discard. I'm an organizer person I can't live a day without checking my itineraries however, lately I start disliking looking at it. Not that I hate the calendar but I think it doesn't feel any better when I know that whatever I do, these days come to pass and in my end these are all wasted. On the other hand, I don't like pressures so I choose to go with the flow, slow down, plan things out and see how things go in the coming days.

Time flies so quickly, loving it or not, it just is.

OUTSIDE, the Bill Fight Tale

This day has been eventful for me keeping track on the latest issue in the Phils. It has been days since the PCSO and the Media have been conspiring disseminating  info on Phil. Bishops's charitable activities making issues on the aid funds by the government's charity agency which in fact, never an issue at all as both the church and the state work hand in hand to do programs that help the poor and.....taaaaadaaanng.!...the Senate hearing today proved that the publicity claim and spreading misinformation against our Bishops are  just bunches of big and fat lies.

This certainly shows how dishonesty is tolerated in the country and media is the key role in this ill-mentality that shapes the society  detestably. After all, the bottom line is MONEY and of this purpose of degrading the Church so whatever these Birth Control Advocates imposed would seemingly soak straight without the Church's opposition.

The Catholic Church condemns  contraception even way back the ancient times. There were  pressures  before 1968 of the Church to change this doctrine  like what other denominations did  that made Pope Paul VI  RENEWED the BAN on Birth Control in the Catholic Church through the HUMANE VITAE (of Human Life). The major reasons, yes, lots of them are in my other writings in this blog.

This Reproductive Health  Bill  and of abortion advocacy have been pushed in the country by various NGOs headed by the PLCPD, WGNRR,  Planned Parenthood-the leading abortion provider in the US etc and even in the past, the attempts never succeeded and just this term, of Aquino administration, this bill has been intensified as the President himself is into this Project. Perhaps of him waiting for the EU's million dollar euros and the US's million-dollar reward once this bill be passed.

However, this bill is asking for the Filipino tax money of at least, three to five billion a year. One of the reasons  the general public opposes to. Why the heck the government should spend billions of pesos a year for population control when these funds can be spent  in genuine human development as agricultural training, farming livestock, small-medium enterprises and the like that definitely provide jobs, income and yes, boost the Philippine economy and lowers fertility? And so the war is on in the Philippines unfortunately, initiated by these RH pushers and abortion advocates and nope, not against the people but against the Church.

They have to destroy the Church's credibility so whatever the Church's stand specifically for opposing this RH Bill would be invalidated. I can admit there's  chaos in the country as these anti-Church are even using the name "Catholic" in their  drive of destruction, perhaps to convince and brainwashed the weak.

The PCSO was a good show, it was great the TRUTH came out today and it proves how desperate these anti-Church are in their agenda of putting down the Catholic Bishops. And who are these people, of course those who are serving the current administration. If people can learn to at least think OUTSIDE of the box and see the country in another light and how things are being manipulated  primarily by the MEDIA, apparently, all boil down to the Catholic Church's  assassination plan  by virtue of the Mother Church's fight against  this RH Bill. 

There's no way the priest, bishops and the true Catholics would turn their back to the teachings and that RH is   bottoms-up and top-down NO-NO. These  reproductive rights advocates including those who claim Catholics  have nothing else in mind but to play the unfair game.  This is outside of the context of  insisting harmful and dissipated bill, isn't it?